Fifteen years since making his debut as the claw-welding superhero Wolverine in X-Men (2000), Hugh Jackman (Australia, Les Miserables) has announced that he will finally say goodbye to his iconic role in the character’s third solo film Wolverine 3 which is due out in 2017.

The Australian actor initially revealed the news via his Instagram post which read: “WOLVERINE….ONE LAST TIME”.

He later confirmed his impending departure whilst speaking on The Dr Oz Show.

“It is my last time. It felt like it was the right time to do it. And let’s be honest, 17 years. I never thought in a million years it would last, so I’m so grateful to the fans for the opportunity of playing it.

“I kind of have in my head what we’re going to do in this last one. It just feels like this is the perfect way to go out.”

As well as the first X-Men film, Jackman has played the popular Marvel superhero in five other outings which included last year’s hit X-Men: Days of Future Past.

But before Wolverine 3, he is reportedly set to play the character again in the next X-Men installment Apocalypse which is due out in 2016. That particular film will follow up the events of Days of Future Past with James McAvoy (Young Charles Xavier), Michael Fassbender (Young Erik Laucher) and Jennifer Lawrence (Young Mystique) all returning.

Jackman will be reuniting with long-term X-Men co-star Patrick Stewart (Old Charles Xavier) and director James Mangold for the third Wolverine film which is due for release on March 3rd 2017.